18 AC display makeover- not too fancy

[mikeg]

From years of this....




To this...











work in progress....each stand's just a couple of 1x4s, 1 2x4 for base and weight and plywood patterns cut to show as much as possible and still support the booty- cheap, cheap and something different, at least. No matter what the 18th model, the principle is the same, they're quick and easy after the 1st one. I've built several more stands than pictured here, but my digital camera refuses to download to the canon zoombrowser at the moment.

[CW4USARMY]

Love those shelf units! Great way to display and small footprint. Thanks for sharing, I may have to build a couple myself (you don't have a patent on them yet do ya?

[mikeg]

I do like the small footprint factor, obviously- no patents, but I have two young teens and two older German cars so when you get the royalties rolling in think about your XD interior decorator benefactor mikeg

[YT]

Those are great!

[snake]

Great idea, mikeg.

Pretty simple, as long as you have some basic woodworking skills, and would be cheap as well.

Those 1/18 display well with this concept.

Well done.

[pickelhaube]

Maybe not cheaper but Home Depot has those stamped metal white/gray @ $3 each shelf brackets that you can screw to your main support 2x4.

That way you can omit your outside 1x4 and make them more visible.

Neat idea nonetheless.

[mikeg]

whaddya mean Pickle- I only used the 2x4 for the base borders and to reinforce between the borders for weight- what am I missing? I can cut with a jigsaw, Trace patterns, and turn a philips head screwdriver, but not much else- give me a better idea of what your talking about-

[Jnewboy]

Mike you did a great job!!! Very cool and a major improvement!! You have a great collection!

[CanberraPaul]

A real nice series of display units Mike - top work !!!!

[pickelhaube]

You need to brace the one side ( wooden 1x ) then reinforce the platform with one of these so it is totally open.

http://www.homedepot.com/s/shelf+brackets?NCNI-5

[Dauntless]

Nice! I like it much better than the wall thing. Looks like it fits the P-38's fine too.
A different base pattern depending on the landing gear type.
Yankee ingenuity mate!

[EnemyAce]

You need to brace the one side ( wooden 1x ) then reinforce the platform with one of these so it is totally open.

http://www.homedepot.com/s/shelf+brackets?NCNI-5

I could see doing that if you are going off a wall stud, but for a free standing unit like these (very nice!), I have a hard time imagining much stability on something that tall with just one support.

[Tinman]

Looks great!

[USCGMK2]

How is the stability of the shelf being that tall with the weight? I think i'm going to use this idea looks simple and uses less room, just a coat of paint is all it needs.

[mikeg]

For stability, I add more 2x4 from side to side inside the base- it weighs it down really good as far as I'm concerned. No earthquake or noticeable tremors around these parts, yet. It seems like the last 3 weeks or so, its' been either 20-40 degrees outside or raining so I've fallen behind on the spray painting.

[mikeg]

finding busy work on a sunday afternoon-for the P-47s

I moved the side supports back and wanted to have a better view

There are a couple of more schemes to add, so several more shelves

[Winterstar]

A really nifty idea, and looks good.

[Light.Inf.Scout]

Looks great....jealous of that collection

[mikeg]

I'm gonna change the 47's again, the single shelf is too cramped and I want to display side forward- to see personalizations. The side braces will be narrow side forward and a little closer to the center, so they are not so obvious. I will also crisscross the base plywood with pressure treated 2x4s to add weight. I think I'll also do 2 shelves- one 4 and one 5 AC- with possibility to add another shelf or two if desired.




this is really pretty easy to do and easy to change every once in a while

I think I might go to a single base, sort of a diamond tip to tip type thing with one support at the back of either diamond, we'll see, also use .5 inch or so plywood, the .25 will sag if it's narrow supporting the tailwheel

[tpa05]

Hey Mike just PM me yer address. And if you leave a window open I can get in there in no time and you'll be amazed at all the space you have....

...any dogs I need to worry about?

[mikeg]

dang. What......does everyone else keep their stuff under their bed or something?

[mikeg]

I'll go with the 2nd pattern, 1 behind the other, the base will be of sufficient size for any of the ac, the other shelves will be cut to fit the other 47's gear

[mikeg]

reuse old side supports of old display into the slats on the new base, throw the old shelves away. What about them Falcons?

[mikeg]

ok, here's how it's going to be-


I ended up using .5 inch, .75 would be awesome, but this is fine- especially with small supports on the 2 vertical supports and the shelf angled up a bit facing forward. I'll make
4 more shelves; there's only 8 21st paint schemes, so I'll put a couple of misc ac on the bottom with the rest of the P-47s

I'll also chock the wheels!!

[normandy]

Nice work Mike, looks good. I like the design of the original as well.